Touch panel and display device including same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a touch panel, comprising a screen part, a router part, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part, a first pad part comprising two or more router connection regions connecting the screen part and the router part, and a second pad part comprising two or more FPCB connection regions connecting the router part and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part, in which at least some regions of the two or more FPCB connection regions comprise a conductive pattern having opening regions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2011-0141746, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onDec. 23, 2011, with the Korean Patent Office, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a touch panel and a display apparatuscomprising the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, as distribution of smart phones, and tablet PCs, IPTVs, andthe like has accelerated, requirement for a touch function in which ahand of human directly becomes an input device without a separate inputdevice such as a keyboard or a remote controller has graduallyincreased. Further, a writable multi-touch function has beenadditionally required in addition to a specific point touch function.

The touch panel having the functions may be classified as followsaccording to a signal detecting method.

That is, the touch panels are divided into a resistive type detecting aposition pressed by a pressure through a change in a current or voltagevalue in a state where DC voltage is applied, a capacitive type usingcapacitance coupling in a state where AC voltage is applied, and anelectromagnetic type detecting a selected position as a change involtage in a state where a magnetic field is applied.

Among the types, the most common resistive type and capacitive typetouch panels recognize a touch or not according to an electrical touchor a change of capacitance by using a transparent conductive film suchas an ITO film. However, the transparent conductive film almost has highresistance of 150 ohm/square or more, and sensitivity when increasing asize deteriorates. In addition, as a size of a screen is increased,costs of the ITO film increase, and as a result, commercialization isnot easy. In order to solve the problem, an attempt to implement a largesize by using a metal pattern having high conductivity has beenperformed.

When the touch panel is formed by the metal pattern, a minute pattern isprovided on a screen part, while a conductive pattern needs to beprovided in a relatively wide region of a pad part for connection with apower source. Accordingly, in the case of using a photolithographymethod in order to form the screen part and the pad part at once, a lotof costs are consumed, and in the case of using a printing method, apattern having a desired shape is not formed due to a touch of a printroll on the bottom. In order to overcome the problem, a method offorming the screen part and the pad part by different processes has beenattempted, but there is a problem in that the processes are complicatedand a lot of costs are consumed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

In other to solve the aforementioned problems in the related art, thepresent invention is directed to a method of simply manufacturing ascreen part and a pad part of a touch panel at a low price, after a lotof researches.

Technical Solution

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a touch panel,comprising: a screen part; a router part; a flexible printed circuitboard (FPCB) part; a first pad part comprising two or more routerconnection regions connecting the screen part and the router part; and asecond pad part comprising two or more FPCB connection regionsconnecting the router part and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)part, in which at least some regions of the two or more FPCB connectionregions comprise a conductive pattern having opening regions.

Further, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention providesa display apparatus comprising the touch panel.

Advantageous Effects

In the present invention, since all the FPCB connection regionsconnecting a router part and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)part are not coated with a conductive material, but constituted by aconductive pattern having opening regions, the router part and theflexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part may be formed together withthe screen part by a printing method by one process. As a result, thetouch panel may be provided at low costs and by a simple process.

Further, in the present invention, the entire FPCB connection region isnot coated with the conductive material and configured with theconductive pattern having the opening region, and as a result, adhesionwhen attaching the touch panel and the FPCB part according to thepresent invention may be more excellently improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a conductive pattern comprised in arouter part and a first pad part according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a process of forming a conductive pattern of atouch panel according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a device for testing adhesion between asecond pad part and an FPCB of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating the second pad part of the touchpanel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

A touch panel according to the present invention comprises a screenpart, a router part, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part, afirst pad part comprising two or more router connection regionsconnecting the screen part and the router part, and a second pad partcomprising two or more FPCB connection regions connecting the routerpart and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part, in which atleast some regions of the two or more FPCB connection regions comprise aconductive pattern having opening regions.

Hereinafter, although the description of the conductive pattern or theconductive substrate is not divided into the description relating to atouch panel comprising one conductive substrate where conductivepatterns are provided on one side or both sides of a transparent baseand the description relating to a touch panel comprising a transparentbase and a conductive substrate comprising a conductive pattern whereare laminated with two layers, the description relating to theconductive pattern or the conductive substrate may be applied to allexemplary embodiments of the touch panel according to the presentinvention unless otherwise noted.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, a ratio of theopening regions in the two or more FPCB connection regions may be 10 to99%, but is not limited thereto. However, since it is preferable that awidth of a region corresponding to a shielded region is larger than asize (size before breaking) of a conductive ball of an anisotropicconductive film (ACF) from the viewpoint of a touch, after a line widthof the shielded region is set to be larger than the size (size beforebreaking) of the conductive ball comprised in the ACF according to asize (size before breaking) of the conductive ball comprised in the ACF,those skilled in the art may select and use an opening areacorresponding to the set line width, or inversely, select and use theACF comprising the conductive ball corresponding to the line width orless corresponding to a determined ratio of the opening area (see FIG.6). In general, when analyzed from the viewpoint of this, it may bepreferable that the FPCB connection region is designed so that anopening area is in the range of approximately 20 to 70%.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the touch panel further comprisesan anisotropic conductive film (ACF) connecting the FPCB connectionregion and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part and comprisinga conductive ball, and the shortest distance between the opening regionsin the FPCB connection region or the shortest width of the shieldedregion may be equal to or larger than a maximum size of the conductiveball.

A shape of the opening region may be a closed figure constituted by astraight line, a curved line, a wave line, a zigzag line, and the like,and may be a closed figure in which at least two kinds of lines aremixed. Further, the shape of the opening region may be a polygon, acircle, and the like, but is not limited thereto. FIG. 5 illustrates asecond pad part of the touch panel according to the exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, at least someregions of the two or more router connection regions may comprise aconductive pattern having opening regions. A ratio of the openingregions in the two or more router connection regions may be 10 to 99%,but is not limited thereto. A shape of the opening region may be aclosed figure constituted by a straight line, a curved line, a waveline, a zigzag line, and the like, and may be a closed figure in whichat least two kinds of the lines are mixed. Further, the shape of theopening region may be a polygon, a circle, and the like, but is notlimited thereto.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the screen partmay comprise a first conductive pattern, the router part and the firstpad part may comprise a second conductive pattern, and the second padpart may comprise a third conductive pattern.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, at least a partof the second conductive pattern may have a different line width fromthe first conductive pattern, and at least a part of the thirdconductive pattern may have a different line width from the firstconductive pattern.

In more detail, a line width of at least a part of the second conductivepattern may be larger than a line width of the first conductive pattern.For example, a difference in a line width between at least a part of thesecond conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern may be 5micrometers or more, may be 15 micrometers or more, may be 30micrometers or more, and may be 100 micrometers or less.

Further, a line width of at least a part of the third conductive patternmay be larger than a line width of the first conductive pattern. Forexample, a difference in a line width between at least a part of thethird conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern may be 5micrometers or more, may be 15 micrometers or more, may be 30micrometers or more, and may be 100 micrometers or less.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the firstconductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the thirdconductive pattern may be formed by a printing method. As a detailedexample, the conductive patterns may be formed on a transparent base bya reverse offset printing method or a gravure printing method. Inaddition, after an etching resist is formed on a base with a conductivelayer by a reverse offset printing method or a gravure offset printingmethod, the conductive patterns may be formed by etching the conductivelayer by using the formed etching resist. In the present invention, forpattern precision, the reverse offset printing method is morepreferable.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, asdescribed above, a width and a depth of a pattern of a cliche used inthe printing method may be controlled in order to manufacture two kindsor more of conductive patterns having different line widths by oneprocess. According to an exemplary embodiment, the conductive patternsmay be formed by one process by controlling a relationship between thewidth and the depth of the pattern in the cliche having the same depthof the pattern. According to another exemplary embodiment, a clichecomprising two or more regions having different depths of the patternmay be used, and in this case, the conductive pattern may be formed byone process by using a cliche having a depth of an appropriate patternaccording to a width of a desired pattern. The cliche may be acquired bydouble etching.

As one example, in the present invention, as a cliche comprising agrooved pattern, the cliche featuring that the grooved pattern comprisesa region constituted by linear patterns which do not cross each other,and the region constituted by the linear patterns, as a square regioncomprising two or more lines of the linear pattern in the region,comprises a region where a line width W and a depth D of the linearpattern, a ratio R of a region without the linear patterns in the squareregion, and an opening line width W0 of a mask pattern for forming apattern corresponding to the linear pattern satisfy the followingFormulas 1 and 2 may be used.

W=2D+W0+X  [Formula 1]

D≧42.9exp(−R/0.35)−1.5  [Formula 2]

Here, X is a constant,

D, W, W0, and X are values having a micrometer unit, and

R is a value of more than 0 to less than 1.

In this case, in the square region, the line width W and a pitch P ofthe linear pattern, and the ratio R of the region without the linearpatterns in the square region may additionally satisfy the followingFormula 3.

R=P(P−W)/P2=(P−W)/P

Here, W, P and X are values having a micrometer unit, and

R is a value of more than 0 to less than 1.

The linear pattern may be a regular or irregular pattern, and the linearpattern may comprise a straight line, a curved line, a zigzag line, or acombination thereof.

In the cliche, the region satisfying the Formulas 1 and 2 may be 50% ormore of the entire grooved pattern region.

In the case where the cliche comprises two or more different patterns,the two or more patterns have the same depth D, and the depth D maysatisfy Formulas 1 and 2 based on a pattern having the smallest ratio Rof the region without the linear pattern.

In the case where the cliche comprises two or more different patterns,the two or more patterns comprise two or more regions having differentdepths D, and the two or more regions having different depths D of thepattern may satisfy Formulas 1 and 2, respectively. The cliche may bemanufactured by double etching.

As another example, in the present invention, as a cliche comprising agrooved pattern, the cliche featuring that the grooved pattern comprisesa region constituted by a mesh pattern, and the region constituted bythe mesh pattern, a square region comprising three or more cross pointsof lines configuring the mesh pattern in the region, comprises a regionwhere a line width W and a depth D of the mesh pattern, a ratio R of aregion without the mesh pattern in the square region, and an openingline width W0 of a mask pattern for forming a pattern corresponding tothe mesh pattern satisfy the following Formulas 1 and 4 may be used.

W=2D+W0+X  [Formula 1]

D≧33.8exp(−R10.235)+0.82  [Formula 4]

Here, X is a constant,

D, W, W0, and X are values having a micrometer unit, and

R is a value of more than 0 to less than 1.

In the square region, the line width W and a pitch P of the meshpattern, and the ratio R of the region without the mesh pattern in thesquare region may additionally satisfy the following Formula 5.

R=(P−W)2/P2=(1−W/P)2  [Formula 5]

Here, W, P, and X are values having a micrometer unit, and

R is a value of more than 0 to less than 1.

The mesh pattern may be a regular or irregular pattern, and the regionsatisfying the Formulas 1 and 4 may be 50% or more of the entire groovedpattern region.

The grooved pattern comprises two or more different patterns in thesquare region, the two or more patterns have the same depth D, and thedepth D may satisfy Formulas 1 and 4 based on a pattern having thesmallest ratio R of the region without the linear pattern.

In the case where the cliche comprises two or more different patterns,the two or more patterns comprise two or more regions having differentdepths D, and the two or more regions having different depths D of thepattern may satisfy Formulas 1 and 4, respectively. The cliche may bemanufactured by double etching.

As another example, in the present invention, as a cliche comprising agrooved pattern, the cliche featuring that the grooved pattern comprisesa region constituted by a mesh pattern and a segmented pattern of themesh pattern, and the region, as a square region comprising three ormore cross points of lines configuring the mesh pattern in the region,comprises a region where a line width W and a depth D of the meshpattern, a ratio R of a region without the mesh pattern and thesegmented pattern of the mesh pattern in the square region, and anopening line width W0 of a mask pattern for forming a patterncorresponding to the mesh pattern and the segmented pattern of the meshpattern satisfy the following Formulas 1 and 4 may be used.

W=2D+W0+X  [Formula 1]

D≧33.8exp(−R/0.235)+0.82  [Formula 4]

Here, X is a constant,

D, W, W0, and X are values having a micrometer unit, and

R is a value of more than 0 to less than 1.

Here, the segmented pattern of the mesh pattern means a pattern wherethe mesh pattern is modified by disconnection.

In the square region, the line width W and a pitch P of the mesh patternand the segmented pattern of the mesh pattern, and the ratio R of theregion without the mesh pattern and the segmented pattern of the meshpattern in the square region may additionally satisfy the followingFormula 5.

R=(P−W)2/P2=(1−W/P)2  [Formula 5]

Here, W, P, and X are values having a micrometer unit, and

R is a value of more than 0 to less than 1.

In the cliche, the region satisfying the Formulas 1 and 4 may be 50% ormore of the entire grooved pattern region.

The grooved pattern of the cliche may comprise linear patterns which donot cross each other, a mesh pattern, or both the linear patterns andthe mesh pattern.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the firstconductive pattern may comprise a conductive line having a line width of20 micrometers or less, and may comprise a conductive line having a linewidth of 15 micrometers or less, 10 micrometers or less, 7 micrometersor less, 4 micrometers or less, or 3 micrometers or less. In the presentinvention, the line width of the conductive line may be controlled inthe range of 0.5 to 10 micrometers. An aperture ratio of the thirdconductive pattern, that is, an area ratio of the transparent base whichis not covered by the pattern is preferably 70% or more, and may be 90%or more, 93% or more, 95% or more, 96% or more, 97% or more, 98% ormore, or 99% or more.

In the present invention, a line height of the first conductive patternmay be 0.01 micrometer to 1 micrometer, 1 micrometer to 2 micrometers, 2micrometers to 5 micrometers, 5 micrometers to 10 micrometers, or 10micrometers or more, and those skilled in the art may select the lineheight according to a use, a process, or a material.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the line widthsof the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern may bethe same as each other. As a result, an electrical connection of thefirst conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern may be morestably performed. FIG. 1 illustrates conductive patterns according tothe exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the firstconductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the thirdconductive pattern each independently may be constituted by straightlines, but may be variously modified to be constituted by curve lines,wave lines, zigzag lines, and the like. Further, the conductive patternmay have a mixed shape of at least two kinds of the lines having theshapes.

In particular, in the related art, all the FPCB connection regionsconnecting the router part and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)part are coated with a conductive material, but in the presentinvention, the router part and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)part may be formed together with the screen part by a printing method byone process, by configuring at least some regions of the FPCB connectionregions with the conductive pattern having the opening regions. As aresult, the touch panel may be provided at low costs and by a simpleprocess.

Further, in the present invention, all the FPCB connection regions arenot coated with the conductive material and configured with theconductive pattern having the opening region, and as a result, adhesionwhen attaching the second pad part and the FPCB part of the touch panelaccording to the present invention may be more excellently improved.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the firstconductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the thirdconductive pattern each independently may comprise polygonal patterns ofthree angles or more, for example, a triangle, a quadrangle, a pentagon,a hexagon, a heptagon or more.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the firstconductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the thirdconductive pattern each independently may comprise a regular pattern.Here, the regular pattern means that the shape of the pattern hasregularity. For example, the first conductive pattern, the secondconductive pattern, and the third conductive pattern each independentlymay comprise a pattern having a mesh shape such as a rectangle or asquare, or a hexagonal shape.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the firstconductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the thirdconductive pattern each independently may comprise an irregular pattern.Here, the irregular pattern means that the shape of the pattern does nothave regularity. Particularly, the third conductive pattern may compriseat least partially an irregular pattern in order to prevent a moirephenomenon.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, the firstconductive pattern is the regular pattern and comprises cross pointsformed by crossing any plurality of lines among lines configuring theconductive pattern, and in this case, the number of cross points may be3,000 to 122, 500, 13,611 to 30,625, and 19,600 to 30,625 in an area of3.5 cm×3.5 cm. Further, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, in the case where the number of the cross points is4,000 to 123,000 when the touch panel is mounted in the display, it wasverified that the touch panel has a light characteristic not largelydamaging an optical characteristic of the display.

Further, in the touch panel according to the present invention, thefirst conductive pattern is the irregular pattern and comprises crosspoints formed by crossing any plurality of lines among lines configuringthe conductive pattern. In this case, the number of cross points may be6,000 to 245,000, 3,000 to 122,500, 13,611 to 30,625, and 19,600 to30,625 in an area of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm. Further, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, in the case where the number of thecross points is 4,000 to 123,000 when the touch panel is mounted in thedisplay, it was verified that the touch panel has a light characteristicnot largely damaging an optical characteristic of the display.

The pitch of the first conductive pattern may be 600 μm or less and 250μm or less, but may be controlled according to transmittance andconductivity desired by those skilled in the art.

The first conductive pattern used in the present invention is made ofpreferably a material having specific resistance of 1×10⁶ ohm·cm to30×10⁶ ohm·cm, and more preferably 7×10⁶ ohm·cm or less.

In the present invention, the first conductive pattern may be anirregular pattern.

The irregular pattern comprises an edge structure of closed figureswhich are continuously connected to each other, the closed figureshaving the same shape do not exist within any unit area of 1 cm×1 cm ofthe irregular pattern, and the number of vertexes of the closed figuresmay be different from the number of vertexes of quadrangles having thesame number as the closed figures. In more detail, the number ofvertexes of the closed figures may be larger than the number of vertexesof quadrangles having the same number as the closed figures and may be1.9 to 2.1 times larger than the number of vertexes of quadrangles, butis not limited thereto.

The closed figures are continuously connected to each other, and forexample, in the case where the closed figures are polygons, the adjacentclosed figures may share at least one side.

The irregular pattern comprises an edge structure of closed figureswhich are continuously connected to each other, the closed figureshaving the same shape do not exist within any unit area of 1 cm×1 cm ofthe irregular pattern, and the number of vertexes of the closed figuresmay be different from the number of vertexes of polygons formed byconnecting the shortest distances between centers of gravity of therespective closed figures. In more detail, the number of vertexes of theclosed figures may be larger than the number of vertexes of polygonsformed by connecting the shortest distances between the centers ofgravity of the respective closed figures and may be 1.9 to 2.1 timeslarger than the number of vertexes of polygons, but is not limitedthereto.

The irregular pattern comprises an edge structure of closed figureswhich are continuously connected to each other, the closed figureshaving the same shape do not exist within any unit area of 1 cm×1 cm ofthe irregular pattern, and the closed figures may have a value of 50 ormore acquired by the following Equation 1.

(Standard deviation of distance between vertexes/Average of distancebetween vertexes)×100  [Equation 1]

The value of Equation 1 may be calculated within a unit area of theconductive pattern. The unit area may be an area formed by theconductive pattern, for example, 3.5 cm×3.5 cm and the like, but is notlimited thereto.

In the present invention, the vertex is defined to mean points in whichlines configuring edges of the closed figures of the conductive patterncross each other.

The irregular pattern may have an edge structure shape of closed figuresformed when respective points are connected to the closest points ascompared with distances from other points, after any points are disposedin a unit cell which is regularly arranged.

In this case, when irregularity is introduced to a method in which anypoints are disposed in the regularly arranged unit cell, the irregularpattern may be formed. For example, in the case where the irregularityis given to 0, when the unit cell is a square, the conductive patternhas a square mesh structure, and when the unit cell is a regularhexagon, the conductive pattern has a honeycomb structure. That is, theirregular pattern means a pattern in which the irregularity is not 0.

By the conductive pattern having the irregular pattern shape accordingto the present invention, it is possible to suppress concentration oflines configuring the pattern, acquire uniform transmittance from adisplay and equally maintain linear density for a unit area, and secureuniform conductivity.

According to one preferable exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the second conductive pattern and the third conductivepattern are preferably stripe patterns, and the first conductive patternmay comprise the regular pattern, the irregular pattern, or acombination pattern thereof.

When the conductive pattern is prepared, a large-area pattern may alsobe prepared by using a method of connecting the limited areasrepetitively after designing the pattern in the limited area. In orderto repetitively connect the patterns, the repetitive patterns may beconnected with each other by fixing the positions of the dots of eachside. In this case, the limited area is preferably an area of 1 cm2 ormore in order to prevent a moire phenomenon due to the regularity andmore preferably an area of 5 cm2 or more, but may be selected by thoseskilled in the art according to a desired area of the conductivepattern.

In order to prepare the conductive pattern, first, after determining adesired pattern shape, the conductive pattern may be formed on thetransparent base by using a printing method.

The printing method may be performed by transferring and firing a pastecomprising a conductive pattern material on the transparent base in adesired pattern shape. The transferring method is not particularlylimited, but the desired pattern may be transferred on the transparentsubstrate by forming the pattern shape on a pattern transfer medium suchas an intaglio or a screen and using the formed pattern shape. A methodof forming the pattern shape on the pattern transfer medium may use aknown method in the art.

The printing method is not particularly limited and may use a printingmethod such as offset printing, screen printing, gravure printing, flexoprinting, and inkjet printing, and may use a complex method of one kindor more thereof. The printing method may use a roll to roll method, aroll to plate method, a plate to roll method, or a plate to platemethod.

In the present invention, in order to implement a precise conductivepattern, it is preferable to apply the reverse offset printing method.FIG. 2 illustrates a direct and indirect process using a reverse offsetprinting method. Referring to FIG. 2, when etching is performed on asilicon-based rubber called a blanket, a method of forming a desiredpattern may be performed by coating ink capable of serving as a resistthroughout an area, primarily removing an unnecessary portion through anintaglio having a pattern which is called a cliche, and secondarilytransferring a print pattern remaining on the blanket to a film wheremetal and the like are deposited or a base such as glass, and thenfiring and etching the transferred print pattern. In the case of usingthe method, as uniformity of a line height in the entire area is securedby using the base with deposited with the metal, it is advantageous thatresistance in a thickness direction may be uniformly maintained.

Another example to which the present invention may be applied uses agravure offset method as illustrated in FIG. 3. The gravure offsetprinting may be performed by filling a paste in the intaglio having thepattern, primarily transferring the paste to the blanket and thensecondarily transferring the paste by contacting the blanket and thetransparent base. In addition, the gravure printing may be performed bymodifying the gravure offset printing to a method of winding a blankethaving the pattern on a roll, filling a paste in the pattern, and thentransferring the paste to the transparent base. In the presentinvention, the methods may be complexly used, in addition to themethods.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the firstconductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the thirdconductive pattern each independently may be blackened. As a result,even in the case where the conductive pattern is made of a metalmaterial, visibility may be further reduced. In the case of forming apattern by directly printing a conductive pattern, in order to blackenthe conductive pattern, a blackening is performed after adding ablackening material to a paste or ink for forming the conductivepattern, or printing and firing the paste or ink to blacken theconductive pattern.

The blackening material which may be added to the ink or the pastecomprises metal oxide, carbon black, carbon nanotube, black pigment,colored glass flit, and the like. The blackening after firing may beperformed by immersing in an oxidation solution, for example, a solutioncontaining Fe or Cu ion, immersing in a solution containing halogen ionsuch as chlorine ion, immersing in peroxide, nitrate, and the like, anda treatment with halogen gas, or the like, in the case where the ink orthe paste is an Ag based material.

In the case of a method of forming the pattern through etching, not amethod of directly printing a metallic material, another example of theblackening may use a method of depositing a blackening layer on asurface viewed by a person, depositing a layer for providingconductivity thereon, and patterning the layers at once during apost-etching process. As an example, in the case of depositing theblackening layer through MoOxNy, depositing an Al layer thereon, andprinting and etching resist ink on the base, MoOxNy and Al aresimultaneously patterned in an etchant such as a mixed solution ofphosphoric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and water and thus a desiredsurface is blackened.

In the present invention, the first conductive pattern, the secondconductive pattern, and the third conductive pattern may be formed onthe transparent base. The transparent base is not particularly limited,but light transmittance thereof is 50% or more, preferably 75% or more,and more preferably 88% or more. In detail, the transparent base may useglass, a plastic substrate, or a plastic film. The plastic substrate orfilm may use a material which is known in the art, for example, amaterial made of one or more kinds of resins selected from polyacryls,polyurethanes, polyesters, polyepoxies, polyolefins, polycarbonates, andcelluloses. In more detail, the plastic substrate or film is preferablya film having visible-light transmittance of 80% or more such aspolyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylbutyral (PVB), polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN), polyethersulfon (PES), polycarbonate (PC), and acetylcelluloid. A thickness of the plastic film is preferably 12.5 to 500micrometers, more preferably 50 to 450 micrometers, and much morepreferably 50 to 250 micrometers. The plastic substrate may be asubstrate having a structure in which various functional layers such asa gas barrier layer for blocking moisture and gas and a hard coat layerfor reinforcing strength, improving transmittance, and decreasing a hazevalue are laminated on one side or both sides of the plastic film. Thefunctional layers which may be comprised in the plastic substrate arenot limited to the aforementioned layers, and various functional layersmay be provided.

In the present invention, materials of the first conductive pattern, thesecond conductive pattern, and the third conductive pattern may usemetals having excellent electric conductivity. Further, a specificresistance value of the conductive pattern material is preferably 1microOhm cm to 100 microOhm cm, and more preferably 1 microOhm cm to 5microOhm cm. A detailed example of the conductive pattern material maycomprise one or more kinds selected from a group consisting of metal,metal oxide, metal nitride, metal oxynitride, and a metal alloy. In moredetail, the conductive pattern material may comprise one or more kindsselected from a group consisting of Ag, Cu, Cr, Al, Mo, Ni, oxidethereof, nitride thereof, oxynitride thereof, and an alloy thereof. Theconductive pattern material may be converted and used into a particleform in the case of directly printing, and in this case, the particleform may be particles having a single composition or a mixed compositionof the metals enumerated above.

In the present invention, in the case of using ink or a paste comprisingthe conductive pattern material, the ink or the paste may furthercomprise an organic binder in addition to the aforementioned conductivepattern material in order to facilitate the printing process. Theorganic binder may have volatility during a firing process. The organicbinder may comprise a polyacrylic resin, a polyurethane resin, apolyester resin, a polyolefin resin, a polycarbonate resin, a celluloseresin, a polyimide resin, a polyethylene naphthalate resin, a modifiedepoxy, and the like, but is not just limited thereto.

The touch panel may be connected to a power source, and in this case, aresistance value per unit area considering an aperture ratio is 0.01ohm/square to 1,000 ohm/square and preferably 5 ohm/square to 150ohm/square at room temperature.

Further, at least one of an anti-reflective film, a polarization film,and an anti-fingerprinting film may be provided on at least one side ofthe touch panel according to the present invention. According to adesign specification, different kinds of functional films may be furthercomprised in addition to the aforementioned functional films. The touchpanel may be applied to display apparatuses such as an OLED displaypanel (ODP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode-ray tube (CRT),and a PDP.

Hereinafter, preferable Examples for understanding the present inventionwill be described. However, the following Examples just exemplify thepresent invention, and as a result, the scope of the present inventionis not limited to the following Examples.

Example

A conductive pattern comprising the FPCB connection region illustratedin FIG. 5 was formed by depositing Al metal on a polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) base, forming the conductive pattern through aprinting process, and performing etching and releasing processes.

As illustrated in the following Table 1, after the FPCB was attached totwo kinds of pad part samples comprising the FPCB connection regionshaving different ratios of the opening regions by using an anisotropicconductive film (ACF’), an adhesion test (peel test) was performed byusing Texture Analyzer XT Plus (Speed: 50 mm/min) as illustrated in FIG.4.

TABLE 1 Measuring result of adhesion strength Ratio of opening region inFPCB connection region 0 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Example 1 — 761 772 9161,112 957 Example 2 — 614 799 995 931 1,145 Comparative Example 1 514 —— — — — Comparative Example 2 611 — — — — —

As illustrated in the result of Table 1, in the present invention, itcan be seen that all the FPCB connection regions connecting the routerpart and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part are not coatedwith the conductive material, but configured with the conductive patternhaving the opening region, and as a result, adhesion when attaching thetouch panel and the FPCB part according to the present invention may bemore excellently improved.

1. A touch panel, comprising: a screen part; a router part; a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part; a first pad part comprising two or more router connection regions connecting the screen part and the router part; and a second pad part comprising two or more FPCB connection regions connecting the router part and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part, wherein at least some regions of the two or more FPCB connection regions comprise a conductive pattern having opening regions.
 2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the opening regions in the two or more FPCB connection regions is 10 to 99%.
 3. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein at least some regions of the two or more router connection regions comprise a conductive pattern having opening regions.
 4. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein a ratio of the opening regions in the two or more router connection regions is 10 to 99%.
 5. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the screen part comprises a first conductive pattern, and the router part and the first pad part comprise second conductive patterns, and at least a part of the second conductive pattern has a line width different from the first conductive pattern.
 6. The touch panel of claim 5, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 5 micrometers or more.
 7. The touch panel of claim 5, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 15 micrometers or more.
 8. The touch panel of claim 5, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 30 micrometers or more.
 9. The touch panel of claim 5, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 100 micrometers or less.
 10. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the screen part comprises a first conductive pattern, and the router part and the second pad part comprise third conductive patterns, and at least a part of the third conductive pattern has a line width different from the first conductive pattern.
 11. The touch panel of claim 10, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the third conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 5 micrometers or more.
 12. The touch panel of claim 10, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the third conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 15 micrometers or more.
 13. The touch panel of claim 10, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the third conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 30 micrometers or more.
 14. The touch panel of claim 10, wherein a difference in a line width between at least a part of the third conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern is 100 micrometers or less.
 15. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the screen part comprises a first conductive pattern, the router part and the first pad part comprise second conductive patterns, and the second pad part comprises a third conductive pattern, and the first conductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the third conductive pattern are formed by performing one printing process.
 16. The touch panel of claim 15, wherein the printing process is a reverse offset printing process.
 17. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the screen part comprises a first conductive pattern, the router part and the first pad part comprise second conductive patterns, and the second pad part comprises a third conductive pattern, and the first conductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the third conductive pattern each independently contain one kind or more selected from a group consisting of metal, metal oxide, metal nitride, metal oxynitride, and a metal alloy.
 18. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the screen part comprises a first conductive pattern, the router part and the first pad part comprise second conductive patterns, and the second pad part comprises a third conductive pattern, and the first conductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the third conductive pattern each independently contain one kind or more selected from a group consisting of Ag, Cu, Cr, Al, Mo, Ni, oxide thereof, nitride thereof, oxynitride thereof, and an alloy thereof.
 19. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising: an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) connecting the FPCB connection region and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) part and comprising a conductive ball, wherein the shortest distance between the opening regions in the FPCB connection region or the shortest width of an shielded region is equal to or larger than a maximum size of the conductive ball.
 20. A display apparatus comprising the touch panel of claim
 1. 